2026 Volume 72 Issue 1 Pages 2-25
The number of international students in Japan has increased through initiatives such as the 300,000 International Students Plan. This process has been characterized by a diversification in the student body, including an expansion of target groups and greater variety in enrollment programs and countries of origin.
However, both policy and society at large tend to overlook this variety when considering international students. To address this situation, this paper focuses on the country of origin among the variety attributes of international students. Through counting microdata from the Lifestyle Survey of Privately Financed International Students (2019), it aims to outline the characteristics of students from various countries. In particular, it considers Japan’s expectations for international students as a future labor force and the students' perspectives on working in Japan.
Examining the progression from initial motivation for studying in Japan to post-study intentions reveals differences in enrolment patterns and how students spend their study period, depending on whether their purpose is education-oriented —viewing study abroad as an advantageous means to enhance social status — or employment-oriented, focusing on part-time work as an opportunity to earn money. Meanwhile, the way students envision their post-graduation paths, particularly their intentions to return home, appears to be influenced more strongly by individual cultural values and sentiments than by economic factors. This analysis not only reveals the diversity of international students’ attributes and the meanings they attach to studying abroad, but also the potential for diverse life courses shaped by the experience of studying abroad. Furthermore, this study demonstrates that these characteristics can be identified based on nationality.
https://ror.org/02evnh647 